Saskatoon police officer denies kicking suspect who later died of brain injury

A Saskatoon police officer says it was “physically impossible” for him to have kicked Jordan Bruce Lafond in the head before arresting the young man, who later died of a brain hemorrhage.

Sgt. Kelly Olafson made the declaration on Wednesday during the weeklong inquest into Lafond’s death, which is underway at Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.

The six-member jury has heard that Lafond and another man were in a stolen truck in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2016, when a police officer attempted to stop the vehicle. A pursuit ensued, and the truck eventually went through a chain-link fence on the north side of the building that houses the Shaw Centre.

Lafond’s companion, who was driving, got out and tried to flee, but was arrested. Police discovered Lafond, 21, under the truck. He was pulled out from under the vehicle and handcuffed, but the cuffs were later removed when officers saw that his face was covered in blood and realized he was in medical distress. Lafond was transported to hospital, where he died of his injuries the next day.

City police investigated the incident and developed reason to suspect Olafson used more force than he had disclosed when arresting Lafond — possibly kicking Lafond’s head — and that another responding officer, Sgt. Thomas Gresty, had kneed Lafond in the head.

Gresty admitted earlier this week that he delivered three or four knee strikes to Lafond’s head while Lafond was being cuffed because he believed Lafond was resisting arrest.

Olafson said on Wednesday that he stomped on Lafond’s hand, but did not kick him.

He told the jury he was involved in the pursuit of the truck. He said he approached on foot after it crashed through the fence and came to an abrupt stop.

Olafson said he saw a man — Lafond — lying under the truck with his left hand outstretched. He said he feared Lafond would have weapons close at hand, so he stomped on Lafond’s left hand, grabbed his left arm and dragged him out from under the truck.

Olafson said he tried to handcuff Lafond, but his cuffs caught on Lafond’s sweater and he had to yank at Lafond’s sleeve and arm to get them free.

Olafson said when Lafond was finally cuffed, he rolled him onto his back and realized Lafond’s face was covered with blood and he appeared to be unconscious. Another officer called an ambulance.

Police cruiser camera footage appears to show Olafson making a kicking motion toward something under the truck, and Saskatoon police officers questioned Olafson about his actions.

Olafson told the jury he did not kick Lafond.

“It’s not true. I can tell you it would be physically impossible for me to kick the individual where he was located and where I was located in the back of the truck. I stomped on his hand as I approached him with my right foot on his left hand. That’s the only access point I had,” he said.

The jury further heard that Olafson reviewed the in-car camera video of the incident prior to preparing notes about the event — contrary to police policy, which forbids officers from reviewing video of serious injury or death events without permission from a lead investigator.

Olafson testified he was aware of the policy, but nevertheless watched camera footage from his car and two other police vehicles immediately after the incident. He said he didn’t believe he was violating policy because, at the time, he had “no idea” how serious Lafond’s injuries were. He said he watched the footage to try to understand how Lafond had been ejected from the truck.

“That was my sole intention,” Olafson testified.

Chris Murphy, the lawyer representing Lafond’s family, asked if Olafson made up the story about stomping on Lafond’s hand because he had seen the footage and knew he would need to explain his kicking action.

Olafson said that was not the case and added that he has used force hundreds of times in his career and has always documented it — even when it involved kicks.

Lafond died of a brain hemorrhage caused by trauma. On Wednesday, a forensic neuropathologist who studied Lafond’s brain said it’s not possible to determine whether the trauma was caused by the vehicle crash or subsequent use of force by officers.

An inquest is not intended to establish whether criminal acts were committed or if any of the people involved bear responsibility for Lafond’s death.

The jury is tasked with determining how he died and whether any changes could be made to prevent future deaths.